How long have you worked in Management?

I’ve been working as an artist vision partner (manager) for about four years. Started in Chicago with two artists, then expanded the roster when moving to London.

Who do you manage now?

Currently I work with Michael Sebastian, rallycap / Michael Andrew, Paulina, Lukr, & YAZ.

Where did you find your first client and what inspired you to take them on?

While in Chicago, I attended a Sofar show and was blown away by one of the artists. He was in town from Nebraska (central part of the US), and we had a great time chatting throughout the show. He was in town for a handful of days after this show, which we spent some time discussing his project and next plans. That organically grew over a few months after getting on over the weekend. I felt he needed someone on his team to help craft the next album and try some new strategies. The engagement between us was very open and respectful. We saw some small local success early on, which solidified the positive relationship between us.

What does a good/bad day at work look like for you?

A good day results in my energy levels skyrocketing because of building on relationships, positive results, and great conversations. I enter everyday with a positive mindset, which usually results in very good, productive days. My goal is to find wins in the little things to use those as inspiration for growth. Everyday is a day of learning and developing, no matter the experience.

An actual bad day is very rare in my world, as I try to look at everything as a learning and growth moment. But a truly bad day is when something I work on for a while doesn’t work out, and I have to be the one to break the news to the artist / team.

Always aiming to look holistically with the days into weeks into months. Good and bad days are always balanced, just depends on the action after those days.

What has been the highlight of your management career to date?

Setting up my company in London (the UK). After moving from the US, it was a big jump to now having a UK-based company with clients based in the UK, US & Australia. It had been a very positive and supportive experience, something I am most proud of.

What do you think are the big challenges for a manager in 2024?

There is one challenge I feel sticks out the most for a manager in 2024 and it’s something I’m very passionate about bringing attention to. That is personal coaching and development. This impacts each personal business directly and can make longing impact in company culture. Investing personally in entrepreneurial coaching allows to stay ahead of the curve and working on skills which need more attention for growth.

The topic of personal development is something I work on each week so I can grow as a leader for my team and my clients. As a leader I am providing a service to all my stakeholders, which is always evolving. To grow and make larger impacts, managers should focus within and consistently invest in themselves, so they can continue to serve their stakeholders better.

Why would you recommend the MMF?

I would recommend this community because it provides a sense of understanding on what it means to be a manager. It is lonely to be an artist manager, so having a community of others who go through similar experiences always helps. I would recommend any young new manager to join and get involved to build their network.

What music are you currently listening to?

Currently I am listening to Kingfishr, Henry Grace, Emsea, and Lyncs, to name a few.